HIU vs. AQ

Should I go to Hope International University or Aquinas College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if HIU or AQ is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Hope International University vs. Aquinas College comparison
Hope International University Aquinas College College 3 College 4
Hope International University Aquinas College
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Overview

HIU AQ
Location Fullerton, CA Grand Rapids, MI
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 1,116 1,265
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #935 #819
Religious Affiliation Christian Churches and Churches of Christ Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hiu.edu aquinas.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

HIU AQ
Tuition (In State) $34,500 $36,480
Tuition (Out of State) $34,500 $36,480
Room & Board $13,050 $10,572
Avg Net Price $26,146 $18,605
Avg Grant Aid $23,077 $30,049
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

HIU AQ
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 810 2,116
Admitted 261 1,921
Acceptance Rate 32.2% 90.8%
Enrolled % 33.3% 16%
Avg High School GPA 3.26 3.52
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range
SAT Range 1000/1180 1000/1180
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 20, 2025

Academics

HIU AQ
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (36%)
  • Work and Family Studies (18%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

HIU AQ
Graduation Rate 32% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $40,000
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $268

Diversity

HIU AQ
% Men 35% 43%
% Women 65% 57%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 42% 82%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 21% 6%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 11% 3%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 15% 3%

Students

HIU AQ
% In-State 82% 84%
% Out-of-State 10% 13%

Campus

HIU AQ
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Aquinas College is larger than than HIU based on total student enrollment (1,265 students vs. 1,116 students)

HIU vs. AQ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HIU or AQ?

  • Aquinas College is 5.7% more expensive to attend than HIU for in-state tuition ($36,480.00 vs. $34,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.7% higher at AQ than Hope International University ($36,480.00 vs. $34,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Aquinas College than HIU ($18,605 vs. $26,146)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 23.4% lower than costs at Hope International University ($10,572 vs. $13,050)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Hope International University as Aquinas College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 30.2% larger than aid received Hope International University ($30,049 vs. $23,077)

HIU vs. AQ Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HIU or AQ? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AQ or HIU .

  • The average SAT score at Aquinas College (1090) is 180 points higher than at HIU (910)
  • Incoming AQ students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at HIU (19)
  • Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at HIU (3.26)
  • AQ has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than HIU (32.2%)

HIU vs. AQ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, HIU or AQ? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between AQ and HIU.

  • The graduation rate at AQ is higher than Hope International University (52% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from Aquinas College earn on average $300 more per year than HIU graduates after ten years. ($40,000 vs. $39,700)
  • Aquinas College and HIU graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($26,000 vs. $26,000)
  • Aquinas College and HIU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($268 vs. $268)
  • More AQ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HIU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 58%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/